Does solar PV have an impact on the environment? Can it realize true zero-carbon energy?

As global climate change becomes an increasingly serious issue, governments and businesses are accelerating the clean energy transition. As one of the most promising renewable energy sources, solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation is considered an important part of realizing a global zero-carbon future. However, many people still have questions about whether solar PV can really deliver zero-carbon benefits. Brice Solar will take an in-depth look at the environmental impacts of solar PV and whether it can achieve the goal of a truly zero-carbon energy future.

1. Basic Principles and Advantages of Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation

The principle of solar photovoltaic power generation is to utilize the photovoltaic effect to directly convert solar energy into electricity, in which the sunlight irradiated on the photovoltaic cell generates electron-hole pairs, and the built-in electric field separates the electrons from the holes, forming an electric current and outputting electricity through external circuits, which has the advantages of non-pollution, renewability and low maintenance costs.

And the advantages of solar photovoltaic hair:

Solar energy is one of the richest and cleanest energy sources in nature, which produces almost no pollutants and is a kind of green energy.

Solar PV systems do not release greenhouse gases during the power generation process and are therefore widely recognized as a zero-carbon energy source.

Solar energy is a renewable, virtually unlimited resource that is not geographically restricted, making it suitable for worldwide applications.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), solar PV has become the fastest growing form of energy in the world, with more than 1,000GW of installed PV capacity worldwide in 2023, and is expected to continue to grow significantly over the next decade.

2. Environmental impact of solar PV power generation

Although solar PV is considered a zero-carbon energy source, the production of solar PV equipment, and the process of using it, does have an impact on the environment. The following are the three main environmental impacts of photovoltaic power generation:

Energy consumption and carbon emissions during the manufacturing process of PV equipment

The production of solar photovoltaic panels involves the extraction and processing of raw materials such as silicon, glass, and aluminum, and the entire production process requires the consumption of large amounts of energy. A certain amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions may be generated during the extraction of silicon materials and the manufacturing of cells. According to research, the carbon emissions from manufacturing 1 kW of PV modules range from approximately 40-70 kg CO₂, with the exact value influenced by the production process and regional energy mix.

Recycling and Disposal of PV Materials

PV panels typically have a lifespan of 25-30 years, and panels need to be recycled and disposed of as they age. Although most PV panel materials, such as silicon and glass, are currently recyclable, the recycling technology is still in the development stage and the recycling rate has not yet reached 100%. Therefore, the disposal of discarded panels may also put some pressure on the environment.

Land occupation and ecological impact

The construction of large-scale solar power plants may involve the occupation of a large amount of land, which may have an ecological impact, especially when solar power plants are constructed in deserts or open spaces. However, compared with traditional energy sources, such as coal and natural gas power plants, the environmental impact of solar power plants is relatively small, and photovoltaic power generation does not directly emit harmful substances.

3. How does solar PV achieve zero carbon energy?

Although solar photovoltaic equipment produces a certain amount of carbon emissions during the manufacturing and disposal process, solar photovoltaic power generation is still a “zero-carbon” energy source from the perspective of the overall life cycle, which we introduce from the following three aspects:

PV Life Cycle Carbon Emissions

According to the research report of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the whole life cycle carbon emission of solar PV system, from production, transportation to installation, use and dismantling process, is about 20-70 g CO₂/kWh, compared with the carbon emission of traditional coal power plant as high as 800 g CO₂/kWh, and the natural gas power plant as high as 400 g CO₂/kWh. process emissions, solar PV installations still generate substantially less electricity than traditional fossil energy sources.

Photovoltaic Energy Payback Cycle

Typically, a solar PV system “recovers” the carbon emissions from its manufacturing process within 2-4 years of commissioning. For the remaining 20-30 years, the system produces virtually no carbon emissions. Through this life cycle “carbon recycling”, solar PV systems are able to achieve near-zero carbon emissions over the long term.

Advances in PV technology and the future

As PV technology continues to advance, the energy efficiency of PV power generation and the carbon emissions of the production process are gradually being reduced. For example, the emergence of new technologies such as bifacial photovoltaic panels and chalcogenide solar cells can improve the efficiency of power generation, reduce material consumption, and lower the energy demand in the production process. In addition, the recycling technology of PV panels is gradually maturing, and more PV panels will be efficiently recycled in the future, further reducing the environmental impact.

4. Environmental trends in the global solar PV industry

Globally, the solar photovoltaic industry is accelerating towards green and low-carbon development. Many countries and enterprises have adopted effective policies and technical measures to minimize the negative impact of PV power generation on the environment.

Case in point:

China has become the world's largest producer of photovoltaic (PV) equipment and has implemented strict environmental standards in the PV industry chain. The Chinese government encourages the PV industry to adopt green manufacturing technologies, promotes the recycling of PV modules, and is committed to enhancing the overall environmental benefits of PV power generation.

The EU actively promotes the circular economy model of renewable energy while promoting photovoltaic power generation. According to the EU's “Green Deal”, by 2030, the EU will significantly increase the proportion of PV power generation and promote green PV technology to ensure that the environmental impact of its full life cycle is minimized.

5. Gradual reduction of the environmental impact of solar PV power generation

Although solar PV may have some impact on the environment in the short term, the environmental impact of PV power generation is gradually diminishing with technological advances and optimization of manufacturing processes. In the long run, solar PV is one of the key technologies for achieving the global zero carbon goal.

In the future, with the combination of more clean energy technologies, such as PV and energy storage systems, solar PV power generation will be able to become more efficient and environmentally friendly. Through smart grid technology, the volatility of solar energy will also be effectively regulated, further enhancing its sustainability and stability.

Conclusion

Solar photovoltaic equipment power generation does have a certain impact on the environment during the manufacturing and disposal process, but in terms of the full life cycle, its carbon emissions are much lower than those released by traditional coal power, and it remains a clean energy source with close to zero carbon. As technology continues to advance, the environmental impact of solar PV will be further reduced and move towards the goal of realizing a truly zero-carbon energy source. Choosing solar PV not only helps to reduce carbon emissions, but also reduces reliance on electricity-using energy sources for your business.

Choosing solar PV to reduce reliance on electricity-using energy sources can also help realize a zero-carbon future, reducing the environmental footprint and bringing sustainability to your business! To learn more about the environmental benefits of photovoltaic power generation and to promote green energy change, you can contact us via the website contact form!